Police: Illegal immigrant involved in fiery crash

Cristian Ramirez, 24, was arrested after allegedly fleeing from the scene of a crash in Deer Park that ended with a ruptured fuel system and fire that damaged three vehicles involved early Sunday morning.(Photo: The Enquirer/Cara Owsley)Buy Photo

Police say several people fled from the scene of a crash in Deer Park that ended with a ruptured fuel system and damaging fire.

A 2005 Chrysler side-swiped two parked cars in the 4200 block of Hegner Avenue at about 2:30 a.m., according to a news release from Deer Park police. It then rear-ended and forced a parked Ford Taurus into a parked van, which ended up pushed into a yard.

The fuel system in one of the vehicles ruptured, causing it to ignite. The fire damaged three vehicles involved, according to the release.

The driver and as many as two other people fled the Chrysler, which was listed as belonging to Cristian Alexis Ramirez Amezcua, 24. When police tracked down Amezcua, who lives on the block where the crash occurred, he denied knowledge of the crash, both in broken English and through a translator.

Amezcua, however, had injuries consistent with a person who would have been wearing a seat belt in the passenger seat of a crash, according to the release.

Police arrested Amezcua for obstructing official business, as he would not provide the name of the driver or other passengers in the vehicle. Although the crash is still under investigation, police believe alcohol was involved.

Amezcua appeared in court Monday. His bond was set at $5,000.

Ramirez also told police he was in the country illegally, according to the release. An agent from Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to visit Amezcua at the Hamilton County Justice Center, where he is being held.

Police are asking anyone who recorded the incident to either bring the video to the Deer Park Police Department at 7777 Blue Ash Road or to email the file to investigators at robertvoland@deerpark-oh.gov.